Sidley win; Rye draw

Sidley all but secured their Sussex County Football League Division One status with a 2-1 win at home to relegation threatened Shoreham, while Rye drew 0-0 at home to fellow high-flyers East Preston in the same division.

Two goals in the first half-hour put Sidley on course for their sixth win in eight games. Matt Darby put them ahead in the 17th minute, walking the ball into the net after the goalkeeper missed his kick on the edge of the area.

More indecision in the Shoreham defence led to Sidley’s second goal 10 minutes later, Terry Payne unselfishly squaring for Kenny Pogue to tap home. Shoreham pulled one back in the 43rd minute with their first shot on target, Ollie Davis heading home a corner via the crossbar.

Sidley never really got going during a slightly nervy second half and Shoreham - who had the disadvantage of having played on Tuesday night - had a goal disallowed, but the Blues held on for a win which puts them 11 points above the bottom three.

Rye extended their unbeaten run under joint managers Marc Gall and Anthony Storey to 12 matches with a creditable 0-0 draw at home to East Preston. The clean sheet means Rye have conceded just one goal in their three matches over the past week and they remain in the top four with seven games to go.

Standings (played-points): 1 Peacehaven & Telscombe 35-78, 2 Pagham 38-76, 3 Redhill 36-75, 4 RYE UNITED 35-70, 5 East Preston 33-69, 6 Ringmer 39-68, 7 Lingfield 36-64, 8 Hassocks 38-63, 9 East Grinstead Town 38-62, 10 St Francis Rangers 37-58, 11 Horsham YMCA 36-53, 12 Lancing 37-49, 13 Hailsham Town 34-47, 14 SIDLEY UNITED 37-46, 15 Arundel 36-43, 16 Selsey 37-40, 17 Dorking Wanderers 37-39, 18 Crowborough Athletic 36-39, 19 Shoreham 37-37, 20 Chichester City 37-35, 21 AFC Uckfield 36-12, 22 Worthing United 37-12.

Elsewhere, Bexhill United Ladies’ reserve team clinched the Sussex County Women & Girls League Knockout Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory over Worthing Minors Ladies following a 1-1 draw.